Karl Binz

Karl Binz (1 July 1832 - 11 January 1913) was a German physician and pharmacologist born in Bernkastel. He is known for his investigations on the pharmacological properties and effects of quinine.[1]

He studied at the Universities of Würzburg and Bonn, later working at the University of Berlin in the pathological institute of Rudolf Virchow (1821-1902) and at the clinic of Friedrich Theodor von Frerichs (1819-1885). In 1868 he became an associate professor at Bonn, and several years later founded its pharmacological institute (1873). In 1885/86 he was university rector. During the Austro-Prussian War (1866) and Franco-Prussian War (1870-71) he served as a staff physician.

In 1867 he discovered that quinine was highly toxic to micro-organisms in impure water,[2] and demonstrated that quinine hydrochlorate with neutral or slightly basic reaction was an effective poison for the protoplasms of decomposing plants and impeded many fermenting and putrid processes.[3] In addition to his research of quinine, he performed extensive pharmacological tests on arsenic, halogens and associated compounds, sleep-inducing substances, et al. The eponymous "Binz' test" is a qualitative test for the presence of quinine in urine.[4]

Selected writings

Binz was also the author of a number of works in the field of "history of medicine", such as:

References

  1. 1911 Encyclopedia, Edgar Quinet
  2. Explorers of the Body: Dramatic Breakthroughs in Medicine by Steven Lehrer
  3. Google Books The Living Age, Volume 199
  4. Mondofacto Dictionary
  5. IDREF.fr (publications)
  6. The Encyclopedia Americana: a library of universal knowledge (1918)
  7. Monatshefte für praktische Dermatologie, Volume 18
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